Sound-box for talking-machines



G. HETHERINGTON. I

SOUND BOX FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPUCATLON mzu JULY 25, 1918.

1,339,337, Patented May 4, 1920.

GEORGE HETHERINGTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUND-BOX FOR TALKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application filed July 25, 1918. Serial No. 246,690.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon Hn'rnnnmo- .'r0Ni a citizen of the United States, residing at hiladelphia, in the State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sound-Boxes for Talking-Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention may be included in sound boxes for either gramophones or grapho phones, with the object and effect of improving both the volume and quality of the tone re roduced b such machines.

t is the o ject of my invention to provide a sound box with means for bodily adjusting a diaphragm therein toward and away from the tone outlet, and, means for varying the pressure under which the diaphragm is secured at its perimeter.

' I nd it convenient to illustrate my present invention in connection with a sound box having stylus lever mechanism of the t e claimed in my application serial 1; ,644 filed June 29 1917, for Letters Patent of the United States, because, in such embodiment, the means for adjusting the diaphragm as herein disclosed, also enable the operator to vary the pressure of the stylus lever upon the diaphragm and thus permit recise adjustment of the damping effect 0 the lever mechanism upon the diaphragm. However, it is to be.understood that my improved diaphragm adjusting mechanism herein claimed may be embodied in sound boxes which are not provided. with lever mechanism of that specific character.

In the drawing; Fig. I is a front elevation of a sound box conveniently embodying my im rovements.

ig. II is a central vertical sectional View of said sound box.

Fig. III is a rear elevation of said sound box.

Fig. IV is an inverted plan view of said sound box with the lever mechanism omitted, to show the spring seat upon the box frame.

In said figures; the sound box imzudes the .circular tubular frame 1 having the circumferential series of screw threaded holes 2 and the spring seat lug 3 including the plane faced recess 5, at right angles to the axis of said frame. The two nut rings, 7 and 8, are respectively fitted upon axially opposite sides of said frame 1, and have holes 9 through them in registry Withsaid holes 2 in said frame 1. Said nut 7 has the recessed annular seat 11 in its face remote from said frame 1, to receive the tubular outlet member 12 which has the flange 13 fitted to said recess. Said member 12 also has the flange 14 extending into said box frame 1, in spaced relation with the inter- 6 nal diameter of said frame, and has the cylindrical tubular shank 15 opening into the conical recess 16, which is concentric therewith, and has its base toward said frame. The radial stud 17 is provided on said shank for engagement with a slot in a tone arm, to determine the recise position of the sound box wit re erence to said arm. The screws 19 extend through said flange 13 of said outlet member 12, and through said recessed nut 7, into enga ement with said holes 2 in said frame 1. 'I he screws 20 extend through said other nut 8, and into engagement with said holes 2 in said frame 1; whereby said frame, nuts 30 and outlet member may be rigidly connected. The two adjustable clamping rings, 21 and 22 have screw threads upon their crimeters respectively fitted through sai nuts 7 and 8. The diaphragm 24:, which may 55 be formed of a planejsheet of mica or may be of any suitable form and material, is fitted in said frame 1, intermediate of said two clamp rings 21 and 22, and the two resilient gaskets, 26 and 27, are located u on respectively opposite sides of said 1aphragm and interposed between the latter and the respective clamping rings 21 and 22; whereby said diaphragm is resiliently held atits circumferential margin, and under adjustably variable pressure, between said gaskets, such pressure being variable by rotary adjustment of said clamping rings in respective screw threaded engagement with said nuts. Such adjustment may be conveniently effected by engagement with the DOtCllO: 28 or other suitable wrench holds upon said rings, and determines not only the pressure applied to the diaphragm. but the position of the latter axially in said frame. Said gaskets 26 and 27 are conveniently formed of cut lengths of cylindrical soft rubber tubing, bent to circular form, to fit said frame 1.. However, it is to be understood that they may be otherwise formed.

However, as said lever (which is merely a convenient form oi spring held stylus bar) is continuously maintained in operative relation with the diaphragm, by'its pressure thereon, it is unnecessary to thus cement or otherwise unite them at their junction. The stylus lever 29 extends radially with respect to said frame 1 and has its inner end attached to said diaphragm 24. conveniently by cement 50. The stylus socket 251 is rig; idly connected with the outer end of said lever 25) and has plane faced lugs 32 forming spring seats, upon opposite sides thereof. substantially parallel with tho spring seat 5 in said frame, and has the set s rew it to detachal'ily engage a suitable stylus iii. The two flat springs 3t) extend upon respectively opposite sides oi said stylus socket ii and bare their opposite ends rcspcctiycly connocted with said frame and with said socket. by the screws ii and Said springs Ih' are preferably constructod and arranged to resilientty press said diaphragm toward said outlet member by said lever: the degree of such pressure being \ariablo in accordance with the axial adjustment ol' said diaphragm. etl'ected by adjustment ol said clamping rings.

However. it is to be understood that it the springs al'orcsaid be omitted. as" they are in many ordinulw l'orms ol' sound boxes. to which my improved diaphragm adjusting mechanism al orcsaid lnay be applied; mow ment oi the clamping means may not \ary the cooperative rclutioli oi the stylus lever and diaphragm, as tar a any damping eth c! upon the diaphragm by said leror is concernod.

My diaparagm adjusting inochanism aboyo described is adrantageous as cone pared with ordinary sound boxes. Inning an abutment upon one side ol' tluwliaphragm to support the perimeter ol' the latter. in that. any attempt to adjust the pressure ol' the gaskets upon a diaphragm supported by a stationary abutment necessarily changes the axial position of the diaphragm in the sound box in accordance with the degree ol comprossion ol' the gasket interposed between the diaphragm and such abutment. (in the contrary. in my improved structure abo\o described the pressure of the gaskets upon the diaphragm may be varied without shil'ting the diaphragm axially in the sound box: because. the diaphragm is supported between opposite abutments formed by clamping rings which are both adjustable axially in said box. Such capacity tor adjustment is important as tho procisc location ot' the diaphragm materially all'ects its ellicioncy ol transmission of sound yibrations with re sport to the outlet.

My dlaphragm adjusting mechanism above described is further advantageous as compared wlth the ordinary mechanism in that the pressure upon opposite sides ol' the diaphragm 24 may be adjnstably varied by pressing said clamp rings 2t and 22 toward each other, while in contact with the resiliient gaskets :26 and :27, without turning said rin s; not only because it is ditiicult to turn Stilt rings when in frictional engagement with said gaskets, under such pressure as is necessary for holding said diaphragm, but because any such turning movement would tend to displace said gaskets from their clesired position and thus interfere with the intended operation of said diaphragm. 1:: may be observed that this feature of my intention is dependent upon the fact that the nut rings 7 and 8 are respectively separate from the circular tubular frame. 1 of the sound box and independently axially adjustable with respect thereto as above described. 'lhat is to say; said clamp rings 21 and 22 may be indcpemlently axially adjusted in their respective nut rings 7 and 8 with said members 1. T and 8 detached from each other and. said clamp rings be thereafter pressed together to the position shown in Fig. II by means of said screws 19 and 20; said frame 1 ot' course serving as an abutment precisely limiting the extent of approach of said nut rings T and 8.

Although I have shown an outlet member provided with a conical recess innnediately adjoining the diaphragm; it is to be understood that such construction is not of the essence of my invention.

llu-rol'orc. I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and a rrangcnicllt heroin set forth, as it is obvious that: \arious modifications may be made therein without departing from the csseir tial features at my invention as detined in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. The combination with a spring held stylus bar; of a diaphragm operatiyely related thereto and mounted so as to be shifted axially in ditl'erent. planes.

2. 'lhe combination with a spring held stylus bar: of a diaphragm operatirely related thereto; and a mounting for said diaphragnn whereby it may be shifted axially in dill'cront. planes, including a tubular l'rame encircling said diaphragm: independently axially adjustable rings on said frame upon respectively opposite sides of said diaphragm: and means. on said frame, arranged to axially shit't said rings toward each other without turning them.

I. The combination with a spring hetd stylus bar; of a diaphragm operatircly related thereto; a mounting for said diaphragm, whereby it may be shifted axially in dill'crent planes.inclndinga tuhulart'raine encircling said diaphragm: two separable nut rings. upon respia-tiycly opposite sides of said diaphragm. each having an internal screw thread concentric with said dia:

phragm; tivo clamp rings, independently nx- In testimony whereof I have hereunto 1 ially adjustable upon respectively opposite signed m nameut Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 10 sides of said diaphragm, each having an exvania, this thirteenth day of J uly, 1918. t elnal screw thread and fitted to said re- 1; spective nut rings; and means, independeht (JLORGL HETHERINGTON' 9f said screw threads, arranged to press \Vitnesses: Said rings toward each other Without turn- ARTHUR E. PAIGE,

fng them. CAROLYN E. Rrm'rmn.

Corrections in Letters' Patent No; 1,339,337.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,339,337, granted May 4,-

1920, upon the application of George Hetherington, of Philadelphia, Penneylvanie, for; an improvement in "Sound-Boxes for Talking-Machines," errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as Jollows: Page 1, line 112, commencing with the word However" strikeout all to and including the word and period "junction. page 2, line 5; page 2, line 9, after the period insert the sentence: "However, as said lever (which is merely a convenient form of spring held stylus bar) is continuously maintained in operative relation with the diaphragm, by in pressure thereon, it is unnecessory to time cement or otherwise unite them at their jun-c5011.; and that the Paid Letters Patent should be reed with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflioe.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D., l920.

[emu] M. H. COULSTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 274-35. 

